ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Before Nov. 5, voters have been taking advantage to cast their ballot early through the two-week no-excuse absentee period.
On Monday, 5 On Your Side visited St. Louis County Election Authority in St. Ann and the two satellite locations in St. Charles County.
"I think the magnitude of the increase has really surprised us," said Rick Stream, the Republican Director of Elections with the St. Louis County Election Board. "We’re having the doors blown off in all of the satellite locations, we’re averaging 20,000 people per day total for the 14 satellite locations."
In St. Louis County, it hit a milestone on Tuesday with 100,000 voters total for no-excuse absentee.
On Wednesday evening, St. Louis County shared their daily total of 20,864.
"We think it’s going to slow down, it hasn’t yet," he pointed out.
The busiest site has been the St. Louis County Election Authority in St. Ann since it has nine check-ins, compared to four at the satellite locations.
Stream shared the longest wait time at polling places has been an hour or an hour and a half.
Sophia Pierroutsakos, a St. Louis County voter, expected to wait in line longer.
"It was a pleasant surprise, the line was outside. From the time I got here and done voting, it was 45 minutes," Pierroutsakos added.
Stream explained they're happy the numbers are growing daily.
"Because the more people who vote before Election Day, the less possible problems we may have on Election Day," Stream added.
The queue continued in St. Charles County, too.
St. Charles County voter Tom Klein said he waited in line for an hour.
"It’s worth the wait, it’s our democracy, it’s our elected republic. It’s good to have your vote heard, I know it’s one vote but they all count," Klein shared.
Kurt Bahr, Director of the St. Charles County Board of Elections, explained the average wait time has been an hour.
"First lesson learned is to expect the unexpected, " said Bahr. "We weren't expecting this level of turnout."
Bahr said looking at past numbers, he expected 2,500 voters to come out this time around during no-excuse voting.
Yet, the number doubled.
"We're seeing over 5,000 per day at this time frame," Bahr added.
To adjust, it's added 50% manpower and technology to its two polling locations.
Parking has been an issue at the St. Charles County Election Authority and St. Charles County is offering a shuttle van, so voters can park at a nearby church.
At St. Charles County's second satellite location, Element Church, there will be an extra day of early voting. It'll now be open on the Monday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. before Election Day.
It's a pivot to improve the process at the polls.
Looking at the future, Bahr said the goal is to add more election judges and more equipment.
"Right now, we don’t have enough equipment to handle other places," Bahr added.
He thinks the two-week no-excuse voting, ahead of Election Day, is the new norm for Missouri.
For information to St. Louis County Board of Elections, click here, and for information from St. Charles County, click here.